What's a current, thoughtful book to buy for somebody who's very literary minded?

Question

She's an English major who's actually teaching science right now. I'd like to get her a book for Christmas...and I've got no ideas. I was thinking of something maybe scientific but entertaining and philosophical. A few years ago I got her "A Short History of Nearly Everything" which she really liked. I need your suggestions.

Thanks so far, but I want to emphasize "current". I'm sure she's heard of and read most of the books mentioned. She probably owns half of them.

Answer 1

"Stuart: A Life Backwards" by Alexander Masters

This book was recently reviewed on NPR. Sounds interesting to me. It came out last May.

http://www.amazon.com/Stuart-Life-Backwards-Alexander-Masters/dp/0385340001

Also, my American Lit professor suggested we all buy a hardback of "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, saying the first edition would one day be worth a lot due to its literary significance. This came out this past September.

http://www.amazon.com/Road-Cormac-Mccarthy/dp/0307265439

Or some more suggestions:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/3LJLVRMIP5IU1/ref=cm_srch_res_rpsy_alt/105-5825537-7826823
http://penusa.org/go/awards/winners/literary-award-winners-2006-published-in-2005
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/1000020781/ref=amb_link_3908632_12/105-5825537-7826823

Answer 2

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary

I've heard great things about it, but I also heard some bad things. Though, if she's an English major it might be right up her alley.

Also, check out; The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary

It's by the same author.

I'm an English major and I LOVE David Sedaris. He writes hilarious short stories. It's incredibly witty stuff. I would recommend him to anyone really. But, I've noticed of my friends it's mostly the somewhat quirky literary types that absolutely love him.

Answer 3

I would suggest "The Five People You Meet In Heaven" by Mitch Albom. I am an English major and I loved this book. It may sound like a religious book, but it definately is not. The lessons learned in the book go way deeper than religion. The book seems more philosophical than religious to me. Hope this helps! Oh, and I think it is only 2-3 years old. Don't quote me on that one though.

Answer 4

Women Like Us by Erica Abeel. It came out in 1995, so it's fairly recent. It's about four women who graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1958. They hoped that they'd change the world or live happily ever after with their husbands, but they found that they were too early for option A and too late for option B. The 'lost generation'.

Very insightful and well-written. I think any woman would love it, and I think your friend would also appreciate it from a literary standpoint. It's got nothing to do with science, but it's really a very good book. You should check it out.

Happy hunting.

Answer 5

Try the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. They are wonderful, wonderful books that are super fresh and very funny... not to mention intelligent. They take place in an alternate reality where all the characters of classic literature interact with each other and the real world. Fforde plays fast and furious with literary references and confusing but believable science fiction. They sound perfect for your friend!

The first title in the series is "The Eyre Affair".

Answer 6

Depends on what she is into. You could get her something classic...like The Grapes of Wrath or you could go with something like The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I also think that Alice Seabold has some great new books...I was especially fond of Lovely Bones. There are so many options...you could even go with a gift card from Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Answer 7

I think the Alchemist is one of the best books of our time. What is she into, maybe she wouldnt like a science book. A science book may associate an otherwise pastime with her work. OOOO and if she liked a short history of nearly everything then she might like a walk in the woods by the same author.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

She might like Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton. It's fantasy set in Oxford. I'm an English major and I loved it. But I also love fantasy.

Answer 10

1984